Is it time to form a government inside our sorry excuse for a "government"

[gorbal]

When an individual government does not function properly, people often come together and form their own alternative infrastructure to deal with the needs of it's citizens that the ruling power isn't addressing.

It seems like George Bush is basically deciding to be president of "Taking American's money and spending it on Over Sea Wars" as he does not seem all that interested in governing.

The establishment just isn't listening to us, no matter how many letters we send or protests we hold; officials the majority of Americans do not agree with have complete control of the reigns of power, and will not easily give them up. Who knows if we can ever have a real election again.

Perhaps it is time to come together to form our OWN government, at least to deal with the most undressed issues our country faces. Some are already starting the ball rolling in many ways, some working successfully at the state level, others through slowly forming an alternative economy.

After reading Thom Hartman's Book "Last Hours Of Ancient Sunlight" however, and after seeing what I have seen and learning what I have over the last few years, I feel it may be time to put the peddle to the metal; Or the bio-diesel, if you will. http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/faqs/

Yes bio-diesel, available soon at a commune near you, or at least near me. When a nearby commune showed me their bio-diesel fill-up station a sort of lightning rod went off in my head. I had just taken part in an old fashioned barn raising after paying a small amount to stay over in one of the communities retreat rooms. That night they were having a special cafe that anybody can come to with sliding scale admission. They also had a small information center and practitioners of alternative medicine to keep down health expenses.

No they were not completely "off the grid" but they made money from running a retreat center, giving massages and teaching people to build. They work with a small network of other communities like themselves to trade goods and services for other things they may need, and they do quite well.

"They are just a small little no-nothing commune, what use are they", you may ask. But then imagine a bio diesel station in every commune around the country, imagine vegetable trucks with bio diesel engines, imagine people coming together, buying land together, building houses together, growing food together, even purchasing health care together and building small medical facilities.-

Well, they're doing it baby! And I guess I am basically asking everyone here to try to join the network if it at all interests you. Bring your thoughts, your skills, your resources, and meet-up with like minded people. If you can't work on a state-level, make your own state within a state like the ecovillage I mentioned above.

If we put our words and wishes into action we can bleed this sorry excuse for a "government" dry, while we work on creating an infrastructure for those who be hit most hard by the destruction of social security, unending war, and looming oil crisis. If those idiots in Washington can even create the illusion of a government, if we get our heads together we can create much more.

Here are some links to ways that people are working that covers many aspects of our lives.

Intentional Communites search engine-

http://www.ic.org/

Willing workers on Organic Farms-

http://www.wwoof.org/

Food Issues-

http://www.secondharvest.org/

http://www.foodnotbombs.net/

http://freegan.info/

Community Issues-

http://www.cityrepair.org/

http://www.outofthedoorways.org/

http://www.economichumanrights.org/

building-

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/natural_building.htm

http://www.deatech.com/cobcottage/

News-

http://www.truthout.org/index.htm

http://www.democracynow.org/

Please add some:)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. We're getting off the grid

my husband's a mechanic and is looking into alternative vehicular fuels. My doctor is an MD practicing integrative medicine, my neighbor has a greenhouse with open pollinated heirloom plants, we're checking into alternative building methods as well. We do a lot of swaps and trades and have been doing so ever since we moved here. Like you, I think its time to look to our neighbors for fulfilling our needs.

[katinmn]

2. Progressives are already forming a parallel government

http://www.backbonecampaign.org/cabinet/

I hope it's something you can support!

[gorbal]

5. Cool!

I posted some more links in the top post on how people are "making it" please share more if you find any:)

[clem_c_rock]

3. definitely

I'm sorry but, hanging out w/ a pro GOP person would be difficult to do these days. About as easy to do for me as joining a fraternity.

I just don't get it

[gorbal]

4. Who is pro GOP?

I'm definately not? are you refering to the link? I'll check the link. (Edit, don't see anything, what are you referring to? I feel like there is some sort of neg-bot being turned on whenever I put hours of work into a long thread.)

[Cogito ergo doleo]

6. Isn't that the plan from above?

Americans now have the great honor of seeing their tax money subsidizing multi-million and billion dollar corporations like Haliburton. In return, we lose our Social Security which we have been forced to pay into over a third of what we've earned, clean air, clean water, safe food, medicare and medicaid, etc, and we are then expected to dig deeper in our pockets to subsidize our fellow man.

The New America really couldn't be coming at a more inconvenient time for many of us who have either lost jobs to illegal immigrants or had our jobs outsourced over seas. The best thing any of us can do at this point is to become active in our own local state governments, and see if they can pick up some of the slack until those of us who are willing but barely able to keep ourselves off the streets, have the resources to provide healthcare, shelter, transportation, clean clothes, schooling and whatever else anyone needs but is unable to do for themselves.

[gorbal]

7. Some times the state level won't work

Sometimes it will, I think these guys have developed an awesome education section on things people can do-

http://www.kwru.org/

[jaime_176]

8. Great site

I like the education site. This is Gorbal's Mom by the way.

[newyawker99]

10. Hi jaime_176!!

Welcome t DU!! :toast:

[jaime_176]

11. Thanks

I've been reading for quite a while now, and participating in some of the actions. Now I am a proud member of DU!!!!! I love this site. So many spirited, dedicated and intelligent members...a lot of hard work done by members here. Thank you all for what you're doing!!!!! I am truly amazed, all.

[forgethell]

9. I don't know what

all you have planned, but I believe that the government wants income tax paid on barter. Not sure of it, though, and not interested enough to research.

[gorbal]

12. I know, I am torn from bringing attention to the idea

Here are some gorgeous pictures of cob houses that might hypnotize everyone into living sustanably. (YOU can use natural materials for restoration as well as building)

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/7148/cobpics.html

http://www.cpros.com/~sequoia/pictures.html

http://www.cobcottage.com/pics/